Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-05-13

BOer ways nOrrld, ana Inen lnere Whl OILY
be my old uncle and us two for you to associ-
ate with"
John Mel laughed English gentlemen
amt so particular nowadays, l can tell you,
Miss Croft, especially when they have to earn
living. Take my case, for instance, for |
may as well tell you exactly how stand |
have been in the army fourteen years, and
am now a. Well, | have been able to live
there because I had an old aunt who allowed
me 2l20 year. Six months ago she died,
leaving me the little property she pos
sessed, for most of her income came
from an annuity. After paying ex-
penses, duty, etc, it amounts to
GLIB. Now, the interest on that is about
$50 a year, and | can't live in the army on
that just after my aunt's death came to
Durham with my regiment from Mauritius,
and now they are ordered home. Well, l
liked the country, and | knew that could
not afford to live at home, so got years
leave of absence, and made up my mind to
have look round to see if ! could not take
to farming. Then a gentleman in Durham
told me of your uncle, and said that he
wanted to dispose of third interest in his
place for G 900, as he was getting too old to
manage it himself: and so / entered into cor
respondence with him and agreed to come up
for a few months to see how | liked it, and
accordingly here l am, just in time to save
you from being knocked to bits by an os-
trich."
eyes, indeed" she answered, laughingly
"you've had a warm welcome at any rate.
Well, l hope you will like it."
Just as he finished his story they got to the
top of the rise over which the ostrich had
pursued Bessie Croft, and saw Kaffr com
ing toward them, leading the pony in one
hand and Capt. Niels horse in the other
About 100 yards behind the horses lady was
walking
"Ah," said Bessie, 'they've caught the
horses, and here is jess come to see what is
the matter"
By this time the lady in question was quite
close, so that John was able to get first i'm
preston of her, She was small and rather
thin, with quantities of curling brown hair;
not by any means a lovely woman as her sis
ter undoubtedly was, but possessing two very
remarkable characteristics-a complexion of
extraordinary and uniform pallor, and pair
of the most beautiful dark eyes he had ever
looked on. Altogether, though her size was
almost insignificant, she was a striking look
ing person, with face one was not likely to
| forget. Before he had time to observe any
more they were up TO them.
| "What on earth is the matter, Besse! she
said, with quick glance at her companion,
and speaking in a low, full voice, with just a
| slight South African accent, that is taking
! enough in a pretty woman. Whereupon
Bessie broke out with history of their adj
venture. appealing to her companion for con-
| firmaton at intervals.
Meanwhile her sister, jess, stood quite still
and silent, and it struck Capt Mel that her
face was the most singularly impassive one
| he had ever seen. 1t never changed, even
when her sister told how the ostrich rolled on
her and nearly killed her, or how they finally
subdued the foe. Dear me-" he thought to
himself, what a very remarkable woman!
She can't have much heart" But just as he
thought it the girl looked up, and then he
saw where the expression lay. 1t in
those remarkable eyes. Impassive as her face
was, the dark eyes were alight with life and a
sort of excitement that made them shine
goriHlsy. The contrast between the shining
| eyes and the impassive face beneath them
struck him as so extraordinary as to be al
most uncanny; and, as matter of fact, it
| was doubtless both unusual and remarkable.
you have had a wonderful escape, but |
am sorry for the bird, she said at last
"Whyl' asked John.
"Because we were great friends | was the
only person who could manage him."
YES" put in Bessie, "the savage brute
would follow her about like dog. 1t was
just the oldest thing eyer saw. But, come
on, we must be getting home; it's growing
dark. Mout" tmedcine)-addressing the
Kaffir in Zulu-"help Capt. Mel on to his
horse. Be careful that the saddle does not
twist round; the girths may he loose"
Thus adjured John, with the help Of the
Zulu cambered into his saddle, an example
that the lady quickly followed, and they once
more set off through the gathering darkness.
Presently he became aware that they were
passing up drive bordered by tall blue gums,
and next minute the barking of large dog
and the sudden appearance of lighted windows
told him that they had reached the house.
At the door-or, rather, opposite to it, for
there was a veranda in front-they stopped
and got off their horses. As they did SO, out
of the house there came a shout of welcome
and presently in the doorway, showing out
clear against the light, appeared strik-
ing and, in its way, most pleasant figure
He-for it was a man-was very tall, or
rather he had been very tall Now he was
much bent with age and rheumatism. His
long white hair hung low upon his neck, and
fell back from a prominent brow. The tor
of the head was quite bald, like the tonsure OF
priest, and shone and glistened in the lamp
light, and round this oasis the thin white
locks fell down. The face was shriveled like
the surface of well kept apple, and, like ar
apple, rosy red. The features were aquine
and well marked the eyebrows still black
and very bushy, and beneath them shone q
pair of gray eyes, as keen and bright as
hawks But for all its sharpness, there was
nothing unpleasant or fierce about the face
On the contrary, it was pervaded by re-
Ill air